Brie, basil, bacon and blue…can you tell I’ve been reading more than my fair share of Dr. Seuss lately? Well, it’s just a happy coincidence that all of these great ingredients start with “B” (as does Breville, which is sponsoring a fantastic panini press giveaway today!). They happen to combine into a pretty amazing grilled cheese sandwich. Our celebration of National Grilled Cheese Month continues!

Even if you’re not a fan of blue cheese – I’m speaking to my husband here – you still have got to dab on just a little bit (close your eyes if you have to). The tangy flavor almost borders on tasting sweet amidst the smoky bacon, fresh basil and creamy Brie. I couldn’t crunch my way through that baguette fast enough.

Read on for my Brie, Basil, Bacon and Blue Panini recipe and for today’s Breville Panini Press Giveaway [THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED]!

Enter to win a new Breville Panini Press!

When you make grilled cheese on a skinny-surfaced baguette with loose ingredients like bacon strips and basil leaves hanging out of it, this is a job for a panini maker. You don’t have to flip the sandwich when you’re using a grill. But even when I’m making a simple grilled cheddar for my kids I still prefer to use the panini maker. Besides not having to flip, grilling the sandwich is quicker than with the traditional skillet method because heat is applied to both sides of the bread at the same time. Have I mentioned lately how much I enjoy this appliance?

** Breville Panini Press Giveaway! ** [THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED]

Breville, which makes the panini maker I have been using since I started Panini Happy four years ago, will generously provide one lucky reader with a new Breville Panini Press (retails for $119.95 at Williams-Sonoma).

Here are five ways to enter, you can do any or all of them (please leave separate comments for each entry):

Leave a comment on this post telling us the best thing you’ve eaten this month.

The giveaway will close on Friday, April 20 at noon PDT.I will use random.org to select one winner and announce the winner in this post. I will contact the winner via e-mail – if I don’t receive a response within 5 days I will draw another name. My apologies to international readers, the prize can only be shipped to U.S. addresses.

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

Heat the panini maker according to the manufacturer’s directions.

For each sandwich: Slice the dome off of the baguette to create a flat grilling surface. Split the baguette in half lengthwise to create top and bottom halves. Inside the bottom half, lay down a thin layer of Brie slices and sprinkle a little blue cheese (according to your taste) on top. Add two leaves of basil, two strips of bacon, more blue cheese and more Brie. Close the sandwich with the top baguette half.

Grill the panini, two at a time, until the cheese is melted and the baguette is toasted, 4 to 5 minutes.

What a wonderful way to celebrate National Grilled Cheese Month…with panini! Hmmm. The best thing I’ve eaten this month? I’m sick with a cold and allergies, so, I have to be honest, I can’t taste much! But I did finally find a chicken noodle soup recipe that I like (often times I don’t think it has enough flavor). So, yah. Chicken noodle soup it is!

Last week my husband stuffed some chicken breasts with sauteed mushrooms, wrapped it in bacon and smoked it on the grill. Then popped it in the over with some cheddar cheese and homemade honey mustard dressing….YUMMY!!

The best thing I’ve eaten this week is a Guyanese-Indian soup called “metem”. It has ground vegetables such as yucca and sweet potatoes in it along with ripened plantains and beef. They cook together with cumin, coriander, turmeric, tomato sauce and coconut milk. Incredible. Takes me back to my childhood every single time.

I spent years as a chef and have tried food from right around the world, but this month has been a bit of a dash and grab month for food. Suffice to say, if I had a lovely panini maker, i’d be trying your recipe’s left right and center and i’m sure they would be my favourites for this month and most of the months to follow. Big fan of panini’s…

The best thing i’ve eaten this month…..hmmmm…..well I went to dinner with my husband to a little Italian eatery. They had the best homemade ceaser salad dressing either of us has ever had! The both of us could not get enough! Oh! They also had THE BEST Tiramisu!

Hmmm…the best thing I’ve had this month is the quiche I made for Easter. Asparagus, spinach, green onions, goat cheese, mozarrella and eggs all nestled up in a flaky crust. First time I ever made quiche and it was so yummy! I really want to win this press!

Wow that looks delicious! didn’t know you were on Pinterest I am definitely follower. By the way I made your Cheddar Bacon Panini w/Carmelized Onions I used Turkey Bacon and it was a big hit in my house. Thanks for all the great recipes.

This shouldn’t really count but I think it does. My brother in law made this really good salsa dip for my niece’s birthday party just Sunday and it was like I was at an authentic Mexican Restaurant! It was not too spicy so all the kids could eat it but MAN! I had him give me the recipe because I want to make it myself!

Best thing I’ve eaten this month… was a panini! There’s a local restaurant in my hometown called “Indulge.” They make this INCREDIBLE panini with pesto, grilled chicken, avocado, spinach, caramelized red onions, and magic, I think; it’s pretty much the most delicious thing ever. If you ever happen to be in Cortland, NY, you MUST stop there if you love your taste buds. Liked you on Facebook!

Oh I LOVE this sandwich, I could eat that at least once a day
Best thing I’ve eaten all month, I’d have to say I can’t get toffee off my mind today so I will have to go with pretzel toffee, so good I’m making another batch tomorrow to give to a friend.

The best thing I have eatten this month was a ruben panini from Union Station in D.C. It was wonderful! But I’m definitely got to try your bacon brie panini. Thank you for the chance to win such a great prize!

The best thing I’ve eaten this month was a slow cooked beef stew over egg noodles I made for my boyfriend and I’s 3rd anniversary. My secret ingredient? 1 can of cream of mushroom soup! It turned out soooo good!

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